JAMES HEIDRICH
James Heidrich, founder
of Bad Cat and Blackwing
Amps, died February 11
after suffering a pulmonary
embolism that caused his
heart to fail. He was 64.
Heidrich founded Bad
Cat Amplifiers in 1999 and
debuted the Black Cat and
Cub models at the January 2000 NAMM show. In
2002, he teamed with
Matchless co-founder Rick
Perotta to design the high-
VINTAGE GUITAR
20
June 2018
gain/Class A Hot Cat, which
earned several awards from
music-industry press.
In 2011, Heidrich sold
Bad Cat, then in '16 founded
Blackwing Amplifier Company, using much of the same
staff who'd helped him at Bad
Cat. Notable players who used
Heidrich's amps include Billie
Joe Armstrong, Keith Urban,
Bonnie Raitt, and others.
He is survived by
his wife, Debbie, and
one daughter, Shay.
James Heidrich: Paul Scott/blackwingamps.com.
IN MEMORIAM